Final answer:
Earthquakes are not an effect of El Niño; this phenomenon mainly alters climate patterns and can lead to weather-related events like mudslides, droughts, and hurricanes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The direct answer is C:
El Niño is a complex weather pattern resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. It has several effects on global weather patterns, including altering rainfall distribution, which can lead to mudslides and droughts, and can influence the development of hurricanes. It has several effects on weather patterns and ecosystems around the world. However, earthquakes are not one of the effects of El Niño. The primary effects include fires, drought, flooding, crop failures, insect explosions, plague, and higher prices on goods and services.
However, it is not directly responsible for causing earthquakes, as these are primarily the result of tectonic activities beneath the Earth's surface. Learning about El Niño helps in understanding the dynamics between the ocean and atmosphere and their impact on global weather. This is important as economies that depend on farming and fishing may suffer during El Niño events due to disrupted weather patterns, leading to various challenges such as food shortages, changes in fish populations, and increased prices of goods and services.